Ever thought about having a QSO via satellite? Mac Cody, AE5PH, will be giving a presentation on how to work the FM satellites, also known as the ‘easy sats’. Mac has been working satellites since July of 2016 and has had almost 2000 QSOs, worked all fifty states, and fourteen countries. This has been done almost entirely on the ‘easy sats’!

Mac will show you how to work FM satellites with inexpensive radio equipment and with either home-brew or commercial antennas. All you will need to have is a Technicians License! If the weather holds and and a satellite is available, Mac will give a live demonstration of working an FM satellite. Otherwise, Mac will present a video of him working satellites during Winter Field Day in 2017.

Join us on May14, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney for this and more!

Thanks to Dick Morgan for a very informative (and entertaining) presentation on Propagation in our April meeting! If you missed this, or need information from one of the slides, click the Propagation in 2019 by K6RAH-mckinney-waves link below to view or hit download to save it to your favorite device.

Make plans now to join us on April 9, 2019 for a presentation by Dick Morgan, K6RAH, on “Surviving 2019 Propagation”, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney.

Topics covered during the presentation will be:

1. Understanding band condition information
2. Using a propagation gadget & beacons
3. Try digital modes now!

Predicting RF signal propagation is much like forecasting the weather…only harder. Astro science is still working to solve big questions such as “why sunspots develop, and what causes the solar cycle?”

Meanwhile, radio operators need to monitor the continuous measurements now available to determine workable operating modes and frequencies.

Dick will explain what radio operators need to know and how to work with a handy propagation gadget. The use of radio signal beacons/reports to measure real-time propagation from a station to other parts of the world will also be covered.

It will become clear that greater knowledge of radio signal propagation, along with certain operating techniques and modes, will be the key to making contacts, even during the low points of the eleven year solar cycles.

Dick Morgan, K6RAH, was first licensed as KN6RAH in 1956 at the age of 14. He earned his General Class license and he actively chased DX during the legendary solar cycle 19 from  Southern California. Marriage, college and later career and children intervened for many years. Ham radio, however, is like malaria, it never really goes away. In 2009, Dick returned to ham radio, passing all three exams and now operates as an extra class ham, this time from Dallas. He is still a proud DX hound, having earned his DXCC – Phone with 100 Watts and a random wire antenna and is now working to earn DXCC – Digital. Dick is a past president of the Richardson Wireless Klub, past board member, and past editor of RWK’s newsletter. Check out his QRZ page when you get a chance, and be sure to ask him about his ‘Phantom of the Attic’ antenna. This setup was featured in the March 2017 issue of CQ Magazine.

Thanks to our own Andy Barnes (W5KZJ) for a great presentation on Parks On The Air in our March meeting. If you missed it, or need more info from a slide, click on the POTA Presentation 031219 link below or hit the download button to save it to your favorite device.

Thanks to David Cappello (KG5EIU) for a great presentation on Pi-Star! If you missed the March meeting or would like to review the information again, click on the Intro-to-Pi-Star-MARC link below or Download it to your device.

Our March meeting will be a double feature!

The first will be all about the Parks on the Air program (POTA), given by our very own Andy Barnes (W5KZJ). Andy has been very active in the program and will be sharing his experiences and how you can get involved as well.

Our second presentation will be an introduction to Pi-Star Hotspots and MMDVM. David Capello (KG5EIU), will the covering the various types of hotspots (Zumspots, Jumbo-Spots, Pi-Star, etc) as well as hardware and software features. Not really sure where to start with all of this? No problem, David will be covering this and providing a live demo as well.

All of this takes place on March 12, 7pm at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney.

Members and visitors are welcome, come join us!

Live in an HOA restricted area? Want to try something other than the dipole strung up in the attic? Or, just looking for ideas on your next antenna project? If so, don’t miss the February meeting!

This month’s presentation (put together by Don Parker NA5V, Wayne Hunkins KM6T and John Urban WA9UOD) will be on Stealth Antennas or, “How to keep your HOA happy AND work DX” Really!). The focus will be on loop antennas, but will also briefly touch on using your homes rain gutter for an antenna and tips for hiding verticals/dipoles in plain sight.

So, please plan on joining us February 12, at 7pm, at Spring Creek BBQ in McKinney for what’s sure to be a great presentation.

The McKinney Amateur Radio Club holds its monthly business meeting on the second Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at Spring Creek Barbecue, 1993 N Central Expy, McKinney, TX 75070.